Dell Financial SErvices Scary call with exorbitant amount telling me to pay both the past due and the new amount 2 weeks before it is due Austin Texas

Got a call from a guy with a heavy accent telling me I owed $198.XX. I am thinking that the amount is really $43.00. What I say, how did it get to xxx.xx? He just wants to know when I can make the payment. I say how did it get to xxx.xx. He then tells me that the current due is $43.00 and the new amount is 83.00. The $83.00 is not due till 3-17-09. He tells me that he wants the money by 3-6-09. Can I make a payment over the phone. I say not at this time I can't. He wants to set up a postdated check for 3-6-09. I say no, I am not sure when I will receive payment from the companies who owe me. He says that he will go ahead and auto debt my already set up checking account on the 6th. I say NO. I won't know for sure if money will be in my account and I don't want the bank and Dell to charge me the extra fees for a bounced check. He says you mean the phone charge for the payment. NO I say for a bounced check. As I am explaining the concept of a bounced check and how I am saying NO to charging my account because I have sent in a paper stopping all eft's from my account, he hangs up.

Now, I know that the $43 is past due and he has every right for calling. But for the next payment that is not due till the 17 of next month that is a different story. Also, he was very rude for just hanging up. ALso, if there is a charge to my bank account I will be totaly po-ed, I told him NO!

Jill
Pontiac, Illinois
U.S.A.